You just never know what you might find here from day to day! Wherever my imagination goes, so will you. Wherever my mood takes me, you'll go along as well. Recipes, ideas or just random thoughts - you never know what you might find!!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

There were 3 women, one German, one Japanese and one hillbilly, sitting naked in a hot tub. Suddenly there was a beeping sound. The German pressed her forearm and the beep stopped. The others looked at her questioningly. "That was my pager," she said. " I have a microchip under the skin of my arm."A few minutes later, a phone rang. The Japanese woman lifted her palm to her ear. When she finished she explained, "that was my mobile phone. I have a microchip in my hand." The hillbilly woman felt decidedly low tech. Not to be outdone, she decided she had to do something just as impressive. She stepped out of the hot tub and went to the bathroom. She returned with a piece of toilet paper hanging from her behind. The two other women raised their eyebrows and stared at her. The hillbilly woman finally said, "Well, will you look at that, I'm getting a fax."

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

You guys didn't know you were among royalty did ya? My maiden name is Piatt and the castles below were created by my ancestors in Logan County Ohio.

I have lots of good memories that tie into these castles. When we were growing up, my mother, grandmother Piatt, my brother and myself would go up to the castles and visit with our relatives quite frequently. Jimmy (my brother) and I were allowed to roam the castles as long as we didn't touch anything. We never roamed too far though because we were afraid that the ghosts of our ancestors past would get us! After having lunch and finishing up with our visits, we would go to the Piatt Cemetery and mom and grandma would clean up some of the sites while Jimmy and I roamed around (again, never too far because we were sure it was haunted as well).

My dad and his brother would go up there to hunt and I was always welcome to tag along. I didn't necessarily appreciate the hunting so I would stay at the castles with "Uncle Bill" and he would feed me lunch and tell me lots of stories about the castles. Sometimes on our way up, dad and Uncle Don would talk about how they would spend the night there and sleep in the attic (the castles are considered a museum and have tours that go through so the rooms couldn't be messed with). They would tell how they would be woke up by rats running across them and about the resident "ghosts" that resided there and the antics they would pull. I loved hearing all the stories that were told.

Through an unfortunate series of events, the castles fell into the hands of "non-Piatts". My uncle had remarried and upon his passing, the "new wife" and her children took over. I can remember going up there afterward with Grandma and they actually told her she had to pay to enter the castles and they treated her as a tourist. This woman was a PIATT, who did they think they were talking to. I watched her heart break right before my eyes. I was so incredibly angry. To this day, I have never went back. I would love to take MacKenzie there so that she could "experience the castles" and learn of her ancestry but I know I'd never be able to allow her to explore them the way that I was allowed to. I'm still very proud of who I am and where I came from and no matter what they choose to do with the castles, I'll never forget what really went on inside those walls.

Monday, April 27, 2009

This past weekend we had the opportunity to go to Ohio State's Spring Football Game. Hubby thought that it would be just he and Kenz - I DON'T THINK SO! I had never been to one of their games before and I was not about to miss out on this one.

We left the house around 8 a.m., got there about 9:30, tailgated until around 10 (there was just too much to see to sit around all morning) then off we went to explore the campus.

Well for those of you who don't know, OSU has a HUGE campus. There was a flurry of activity everywhere! A sea of scarlet and grey (their school colors). We made our way to the stadium so that we could get in early and get primo seats (it was general admission).

Around 11 OSU and Notre Dame faced off in a Lacrosse game. That has got to be the most BORING sport I have ever had to sit and watch. It was impossible to keep track of that stupid little ball. I never knew who had it and who didn't. I'll swear my eyes were bleeding before it was all said and done (which unfortunately was 4-fifteen minute quarters). Kenz really enjoyed it though. Finally it was game time. For the rest of my life I don't think I'll ever forget how I felt when I heard the band (which is called "The Best Damn Band In The Land) play their school fight song. Now I have heard this song many, many times on TV, but hearing it in person - well I have no words to describe it.

It turned out to be a glorious day with 85 degree temps and a record crowd of 96,000. We all had a fantabulous time and chalked up another great Jenkins family memory.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Well, for today's favorite five I decided to go with something we'll all have a taste for over the next several months........ICE CREAM! My top five favorites are1. Mint Chocolate Chip (Homemade brand is the best)2. Cookies and Cream3. Strawberry w/Real Strawberries in it (No one beats Breyers)4. Chocolate Fudge Swirl5. Chocolate Chip

Thursday, April 23, 2009

If you'll recall, we ended yesterday with my father thinking he was going to take Wilbur to the butcher shop. Well, after I had found out what the plans were for my little Wilbur Doodle, I had a MAJOR fit. HOW DARE HE! I have loved this little bovine, nurtured him, bonded with him, told him my deepest darkest secrets. This was my pet and he had wrapped himself around a big part of my heart. They couldn’t do this to me or to him, I would not allow it!!!

Now I usually got my way when it came to my dad. I was most definitely a daddy’s girl and don’t think I didn’t pull out every trick in the book. I had to save Wilbur no matter what. So, after many, many nights of crying myself to sleep (loud enough that dad could hear me), he agreed to at least talk about it. After a lot of pouting, sobbing and just plain anger, he agreed that he would sell Wilbur (keeping him was just not an option as per the agreement with his friend), use the money he got from him and then go to the butcher shop and buy a ½ cow already butchered. HOOORAY! I had won! I had saved Wilbur Doodle’s life and it felt sooo goooood.

I know what you’re thinking - Dad didn’t really sell that cow, he just told me that and actually took him to the butcher. WRONG-O BABY! I made him take me to the auction house and watched my little buddy be sold. I was heart-broken and shed many a tear but I knew that the farmer who had just purchased my Wilbur, had a huge farm with lots of girlie cows and Wilbur would be in 7th heaven. It had to be that way, RIGHT! Wilbur was a pet, he would not make a good sirloin or T-bone. He just didn’t have it in him. He was the best darn cow around.

That my friends is where this story ends. It took me a while to not think of Wilbur everytime we had steak or hamburger, but I did rest in the fact that I knew it wasn't him. I cannot fathom raising something, only to turn around and eat it. It’s not in me. I know people do it all the time but not this girl. Once I’ve looked into those little eyes, I’m hooked! So no, a pioneer woman I would never make. I've told Pat many a time that if we had to raise our own meat we'd both become vegetarians and luckily, he agrees with me!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

In growing up, we lived on the edge of the city limits. A field backed up against the rear of our property. My parents allowed us to have pets of all shapes and sizes. My brother had ferrets, skunks and raccoons. You name it, and at some point in time, we had it. Well, Dad thought it would be a good idea to raise our own chickens. He built them a nice little house with chicken fence all around it (my dad could never sit still so he was always building something). Well we got the little chickens and soon they grew into big chickens. Dad now wanted to start slaughtering the chickens and have them for dinner….. WHAT!!! He proceeded to do what people do when they dress a chicken (it’s too disgusting to tell). The next thing I knew, that poor chicken was now fried up and laying in the middle of our kitchen table for dinner. OMG- NO WAY JOSE! I was not about to eat one of our pets (at least that’s what I considered them to be). After dad grew tired of the chickens (thankfully it didn't take long) he had another brillant idea. He had some friends who lived in the country and asked if we could keep a cow at their place (luckily we couldn’t keep one at our house). I went with him to the local stockyard and we picked out a nice little brown cow. It was love at first moooo! I named him Wilbur before he had even left the auction ring. Over the next few months, I went with dad every night to feed and walk Wilbur (he soon became known as Wilbur Doodle). This was the greatest thing ever! I was actually walking a cow and that cow would also come every time I called his name. Who needed a dog??? Well, Wilbur grew at a very alarming rate which was sad to me but Dad was quite tickled about it. Am I gullible or what?? This was not my pet cow, this was dinner for the approaching winter. I THINK NOT!!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Ok, you all know how I feel about my Abbie. This is the absolute best dog I have ever had. I adore her personality. She couldn't be a better fit in our family. With that being said, I watched Marley and Me last weekend (I had also read the book when it first came out). I knew what I was getting myself into and was told that for the last 40 minutes I would cry like a baby! Well that is somewhat correct, I only cried for the last 30 minutes. A friend of mine (who is a major dog lover) refuses to watch the show because of what happens in the end. I don't understand her thinking on this. Yes it's sad, but it also shows how a young pup came into a couples life, turned it upside down, made them question whether or not they even wanted to keep him, decided to keep him, suffered the consequences, watched him became the best friend of the couples 3 young children (all the while I might add, getting into the trash), and showed the couple what unconditional love really was. This dog had a great LONG life. He wasn't taken down in his prime, he wasn't abused, he was loved and he loved back. Yes, the ending was sad, but eventually we all die. The lesson is not in the dying, but it is how much love we give while we are here!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Over the weekend Pat and I had the opportunity to visit a horse farm. I'd gotten to know Karen, who owns it, through my place of employment. Our original intent was to go out and pick up some manure (yes I said manure) for our garden. Karen boards and gives riding lessons for these fine animals. She has a wonderful set-up out at her place. There is an outdoor arena as well as an indoor arena. She has over 145 acres of land with riding trails that wind throughout her wooded property. It was magnificent. I'll tell ya, that woman works her rear end off. There is so much that has to be done in taking care of not only the facility but all the horses as well. Right now she has about 20 or so horses. They are fed and watered in the AM, let out into the different pastures (each walked out one at a time), all the stalls are cleaned and new bedding put down, then they are brought back in for the evening and fed and watered again. On top of this, she gives riding lessons mid-morning through late afternoon. Karen was kind enough to allow us to wonder about the stables and look around all we wanted. It was so much fun. There were a lot of pictures taken (pics on my side bar) and a lot of questions asked. Karen also offered to give me a free riding lesson and of course I'm going to take her up on that one. They took me out and introduced me to the horse I would be riding, her name is Butterscotch and she seemed so gentle and sweet. It'll kind of be a double-edged sword though, I'll love every minute of it, but I'll also want a horse of my own (having a ranch has been a dream of mine for quite some time). I'll be sure to have Pat video my lesson for a future blog because I'm sure they'll be plenty to laugh about!! Needless to say, I'm quite excited and can't wait!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Before I start this post, I wanted to send you guys over the Patjseenitall and check out episode 5. I've told him he needs to post more often, but imagine this, HE WON'T LISTEN TO ME!!

OK, now on with my post!

This week I thought I'd list my favorite meals served from the grill.

1. BBQ Chicken - All I can say is YUMMY!

2. Teryaki Chicken - MMMMMMMMMmmmmmm

3. BBQ Ribs - Have you noticed I kinda like the BBQ stuff.

4. BBQ Pork Chops - Need I say more?

5. BBQ Hamburger - Again with the BBQ.

I know, these are boring but I'm a simple person and these make me happy. I also like to cut up potatoes and add green peppers, garlic and onions, place them in a packet made of aluminum foil with a little olive oil, seal and let them cook right along with whatever is on the grill.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

After reading the fishing tale my hubby posted, I felt I needed to give my side of the story!

While growing up, my family spent many a day and night fishing. We went to Lake Erie once a year to fish for perch and then would come home and have a huge fish fry for friends and family. My paternal Grandmother (Grandma Piatt) loved nothing more than for us to pick her up and go spend the day at the lake (she was in her late 70's when this all started). Mom would pack a picnic, then we'd pick up Grandma, go to the bait store which also sold penny candy, load up on bait and goodies then off to the lake we'd go. On our way to the various places we would fish, we would drive by different farms that had cattle. Well, if the cattle were standing (according to Grandma) it would be a good day of fishing. If the cattle were laying down - we might as well go home. She was a firm believer in this (I can't remember if it ever held true or not). At any rate, we'd have a great time no matter if we caught something or not.

OK so back to the point of this story. Hubby and I decided to purchase some poles and take them out every now and again for a dip in the local park. It would also give us an opportunity to get away for a while and spend some quality time together. Well on Easter Sunday we decided to do just that. We'd been out fishing many years before and, well, let just say, Hubby isn't the greatest fisherman (not for lack of trying). It's not like he does anything wrong, he's just got some bad mojo when it comes to the little fishies. When we first got there, the little duckies were driving me insane. They would swim over our lines, then some would fly off then fly back and of course land right next to our bobbers. And to top that off, idiots, and I do me idiots, would bring their little kiddies over to feed the little beasts, which sent them into a frenzy, knowing we were sitting right there trying to fish. It's not like this isn't a huge park with probably 200 ducks roaming around! So needless to say, we weren't having the best of luck with getting any bites. After a while, duckie nap time took effect (the beasts were so full by now they could barely swim). Guess what, the fishies started nibbling. HOORAY! We both got a couple of bites but neither of us we able to reel anything in. In experimenting with his worm, hubby found a way to let the worm dangle a little from his hook so that it would attract the fishies more. This process took probably 2-3 minutes to accomplish so that it dangled just right. In all fairness here, I didn't want the fish that were biting to think we weren't interested any more so I simply decided to move my bobber closer to where his was (he was getting more bites) to that I could keep them interested. How can this be seen as invading his space. I was helping him out - wasn't I?

After several hours of really enjoying ourselves and having went through 25 worms, we decided to pack it in and call it a day. So we did have a great time and look forward to getting out more often.

We might not have caught any fish but I did catch this...... with my camera!

It went from this......

to this!

Is this not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen!! Totally worth it!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

In recalling my teen years at home, I can remember my room literally having paths made between clothes to get to my bed or dresser. My mother would often say "how can you come out of that mess of a bedroom looking like a million bucks". I was allowed to keep my room "untidy" for 6 days of the week, but on the 7th (always Saturday morning) - IT WAS CLEANING TIME! It used to take me hours to clean up all those clothes (we weren't allowed to have food or drinks in there). Then, the next morning, AHHHH, all was well again! It took seconds to make it HOME again. Well, what goes around, comes around. My husband and I both like to keep our home orderly and clean, not immaculate or freakishly clean, but nice and tidy. In fact, my husband can NAG with the best of them when things aren't put away (his mother was a "clean freak" so he was never allowed to make his bedroom his own). Well, like mother like daughter! Kenzie Rae loves for her room to be a total disaster (I really think it's worse than mine ever was) she claims it makes her feel "comfy", and this drives her father up the wall. So, after many discussions, both civilized and uncivilized, we've agreed to allow her to have "her space" but once a week, that room has to be cleaned "our way" and if her clothes can't find the clothes hamper, that's her problem. Unfortunately her mess tends to overflow into the rest of the house and then dad goes into NAG mode once again. That girl definitely knows how to push his buttons. Hopefully allowing her to have her space now will lead her to being a little neater when she acquires a home of her own. We'll keep our fingers crossed, after all, it worked for me!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Who doesn't enjoy hunting for Easter eggs? Every year here at the Jenkins household, we color Easter eggs. Since Kenzie is the only child left, she has alot to color. It’s like pulling teeth to get her to do it (if I remember correctly, last year I don't even think she did).

Oh well, every Easter morning, she gets up, checks out her Easter grub, then it's off to find the eggs. The Easter bunny has to get up pretty early to get this done and he also has to remember how many he hid and where he hid them. We have actually, as I’m sure everyone else has, not been able to find all the eggs. Now that’s OK if they’re hidden outside, but here in the crappy weathered state of Ohio, most of ours are held inside. Not so good, especially since they are hard-boiled eggs (the bunny now writes down all his hiding places so as not to forget again).

Later in the afternoon the grandkids come over and usually by then, we can take the egg hunt outside. Now we have the little plastic ones filled with candy and surprises. It doesn’t matter the age, everyone enjoys a good Easter egg hunt!

All is well and then on Monday morning, I make the dentist appointments. Such is life.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Now after yesterdays post you're probably wondering why I would do one titled "Easter Pets". As I had stated in that post, I have never bought any of my children a DUCKIE for Easter. However, one year Kenzie asked for an Easter Bunny (a live one). OK, I can handle that, after all, I had raised several bunnies for 4-H when I was a youngun. This was going to be fun. The Saturday before said Easter Sunday, I took Kenzie to our local farm and seed store to look for her bunny. When we walked in there were about 5 of them in a big aluminum water trough. I made sure she picked out the most "tame" one of the bunch. So we take the little fur ball home to introduce him to the rest of the family.Now remember, Abbie is a beagle and beagles are not supposed to like bunnies and I'm a little worried. Well, my worries were put to rest rather quickly.

The bunny was named Ziggy. And like any pet that enters our home, he became a member of the family. I have never ever seen a bunny like Ziggy. I was able to train him to use a litter box. No, I'm not kidding. We took shredded paper and placed it in a litter box. After following him around for a while, he finally made a deposit (nice little brown balls). I gathered them up with a napkin and placed them in his litter box and low and behold, that's all it took. He used it from that day on.

Ziggy could do tricks as well. He loved Cheerios and pieces of bread. So we used these little goodies to teach him to sit up.

He also learned that if he played “dead” someone would come out to revive him.

Ziggy grew to become a good sized rabbit. We had an enclosed back porch and that was his home. He was free to roam about all day and at night he would be put into his cage. He had toys to play with a plenty of room to hop about. He loved to look out the window as well.

Then Ziggy developed a nasty little habit. He started eating the carpet, the screens, the foosball table and the spare dining room chairs that I kept in there. Now, I could've kept him in his cage all day and eliminated this problem but Ziggy was used to running around all day and I could not do that to him. So, after much thought, Ziggy found a new home with a nice German Baptist girl that had just lost her bunny (who was also allowed to roam free in her bedroom). Perfect ending to what started out being a perfect Easter Bunny. From now on, all the bunnies in our home will be stuffed (toys).

I thought I’d share an Easter memory with you. Every year, my brother and I would wake up at the crack of dawn and run out into the kitchen to see if the Easter Bunny had come. Sure enough, the table was full of our baskets (back then we each had 2) and a big spread in the middle for mom and dad. But also, every year without fail, there would be a big cardboard box with a light shining down into it. What was in the box you’re wondering….. Baby DUCKIES!! Yes, every year my mother felt the need to buy us baby DUCKIES! Yes, they were cute, yes, they were fun, yes, THEY DID STINK and who had to clean the box with the DUCKIES in them, that would be me and my brother. Of course, Jimmy (my brother) would somehow manage to weasel his way out of it and I would be stuck with give the little DUCKIES a nice sweet smelling home. OK, after about the 3rd year, I’d had enough.

What did we do with they DUCKIES you’re wondering to yourself, well after rearing these darling little DUCKIES for about a month, Mom would take us to the park to let our wee little DUCKIES go live with the rest of the wee little DUCKIES that all the other children got for Easter. Now this is just cruel, first I get the DUCKIE, then I bond with the DUCKIE, I clean and care for the DUCKIE then I have to let my little DUCKIE be set free and I’m traumatized. What was that woman thinking?

Monday, April 6, 2009

I LOVE PEEPS! They are the cutest things I have ever seen and every year they bring out yet another color to make them even more irresistible. If I could, I would buy a package of every shape and color made. When my kids were wee little ones this would be their first taste of Easter (after all, they had no teeth and who needs teeth to eat Peeps). I personally like mine a little on the chewy side so I'll let them "air out" for a few. With this being a dedication, I thought I'd share some Peep facts with you.

1. In the early 1950's it took 27 hours to make one little chick. Today it takes a mere 6 minutes.2. They are so popular they have become the best non-chocolate Easter candy for the last decade.3. Yellow chicks are the most popular followed by pink, lavender, blue and white.

Peeps are also very versatile -take a look!

Now who wouldn't want this in the middle of the Easter Dinner Table? It's just too darn pretty to eat!

About Me

Who am I? I am a woman who wants all that life can give. I want to see as much of this world as possible and experience things I could only dream of. I want to ride in a hot air balloon, cruise from island to island on a huge ship, travel by train in the back country where nothing has been touched by man. I want to experince all the highs and lows of being a wife, mother and grandmother. I WANT IT ALL!!